Dispensing device for viscous materials



Nov. 1s, v1952 A.- MATLAS 2,6183114' DISPENSING DEVICE FOR vIsCoUS MATERMS Filed Nov. 22, 1950 INVENTOR. ALFRED MATLAS.

Patented Nov. 18, 1952 DISPENSING DEVICE FOR VISCOUS MATERIALS Alfred Matlas, New York, N. Y., assigner to David Weinberger, New York, N. Y.

Application November 22, 1950,5erialNo. 197,132

y(Cl. 222-32'0) 2 Claims. 1 The presentinvention relates to dispensers and more particularly to improvements in or relating to containers having incorporated therein dispensing devices. Suchvcontainers may be used for dispensing in particular pasty or semi-liquid provide means facilitating quantitative discharge` of a paste-,like mass ,from a. container or receptacle.

It is another object of the present invention to provide means ensuring a relatively simple and effective mechanism to be applied to a container for discharging semi-liquid or pasty masses from withinl the container therewithout.,

.Still .another object of the present invention is to provide means affording the discharge of the mass from the container only when the same is in a predetermined position, such as in upsidedown position to permit releaseof the pasty mass from within said container.

Yet a further object of the present invention is the provision of means enabling immediate re ll of the container in the form of a cartridge or a similar appliance to thereby safeguard f hygienic condition under which the dispensing device is to be operated.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide means facilitating the discharge of the cartridge either from Within the receptacle or by releasing the contents of the cartridge into the receptacle from therewithout.

Yet a further object of the invention is the provision of means preventing any contact of the mechanism with the viscous or pasty mass to be dispensed from within the container and the opera-tion of the mechanism with one finger only of the hand of a person holding the container.

Withrv the above and other objects in view which will, appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly dened by the claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiments of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come. within the scope of the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a dispensing device embodying the invention and .applied a container.

Fig. 2 is atop plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an elevational View of ka container with dispensing device, partly in section illustrating a modied form .of the invention .and shown in inoperative position.

Fig. 4 is al sectional view .taken along line 4,-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to that of Fig. 3J but showing the dispensing device in operative position, parts of said device and container being shown in section.

Fig. 6 is a side view of a cartridge used forming a collapsible reiill.

Referring now more specifically to the attached drawing, there is disclosed Ia container lli made of glass or other transparent material, such as plastic composition, having a, cylindrical wall TH with an upper threaded end l2a for the engage ment with the top Wall I2 forming part of a dispensing mechanism later described. Container Iii has further the bottom wall lll and contains a pasty or viscous substance I3, such as mayonnaise, mustard, catsup -or oily mass. .of suitable viscosity.

Container I0 may be a screw cap receptacle of conventional design, which has previously been iilled with a desired viscous substance. Upon removal of the screw cap (not shown) themechanism may be fastened to the threaded container end [2o. This mechanism comprises an operating member I8 in the form of a rotatable disk having the peripheral notches I9 which form finger rests, and furthe1` a plate-shaped nut. member I6' extending for abutment against the top wall I2 and against disk member I8 to which nut member l5 is connected` by a plurality of threaded pins Il. While nut member I6 is. provided with a central bore having screw threads, a sufiiciently large perforation l5 is apparentin operating member I8 to clear the threaded portion 20 of a hollow piston rod 23. In order to reduce frictional engagement ofv disk I8 with re-` As it is apparent hinged cover 24 will open automatically if container I is held upside down by the hand of the operator who then actuates the threaded portion 29 of the piston rod 23 through the engagement of nut member I6 therewith, said nut member being coupled to actuating or operating disk I8. Notches I9 of disk I8 are engaged successively by a finger of said hand of the operator.

While the threads 20 of the piston rod 23 are right-handed, the threads 42a are left-handed or vice versa. Thus, the nut member i6 in unison with disk I8 are rotated relatively to top wall i2 to eiectuate displacement of piston 2! Vagainst the substance i3 which then passes through hollow piston rod 23 for discharge from the container l5 in predetermined quantities depending on the number of notches I9 actuated by the finger of the hand.

Figs. 3 to 5, inclusive, illustrate a device similar to that of Fig; l. However, the device shown in Fig. 3 can only be effectively actuated when placed in upside vdown position, as seen in Fig. 5. The container body 58 has a cylindrical upright wall 5l with handle 52. This handle may be made integral with the container 59 or not. Wall 5l has an inwardly turned flange extension 53 forming the top wall of the container. Top wall 53 is further provided with a circular rim 51a on which the actuating or operating disk 58 rests for a purpose later described. Either top wall 53 or operating disk 58 may have a recess 53a spacing the operating disk 58 from said top wal153.

Connected through rivets 51 with operating disk 58 is a plate element 56 having a hub 55 with a central bore 59 larger in diameter than that of threaded portion El of piston rod 52. The underface of plate element 55 is provided with circularly arranged tooth-shaped elements E6 vwithin the grooves of which a detent E5 may be engaged, asrwill be later described.

Adjacent the underface of plate element 56 is a circular-shaped nut member B3 engaging the threaded portion 6| of the piston rod 62. This nut member 53 swingably carries at 58 detent 65 which is adapted to pass through a slot or opening 54 of nut member 63 for the engagement with one of the tooth elements 66. Detent 65 is further provided with an abutment 51 limiting the outward swinging movement of detent 65 in disengaged or inoperative position,

Operating disk 58 is provided with a central bore 55 aligned with bore 59, which clears the threaded portion 6l of hollow piston rod 62. Operating disk 58 is further provided with peripheral notches 53a for the engagement ofa iinger or i'lngers of the hand of an operator.

Container 58 is shown with a piston S9 integral with piston rod 52 and carrying a peripheral Y. gasket 10 similar to sealing ring Y22 of Fig. l.

In the present instance container 50 is provided with a bottom cover 18 having the inner threads 18aadapted to engage with threads 11 of the Vcylindrical wall of the container 5B.

Upon removal of bottom cover 18 a cartridge (Fig. 6) may be inserted into container 50.

This cartridge may be made of cellophane or similar material which can be easily brought into collapsed condition. Cartridge 15 forming a. rell is provided with a neck portion 15 and a plug or closure member 86. This cartridge 15 may be lled, for instance, with a viscous substance and upon removal of closure member 80 cartridge 15 Vmay be inserted from below into container 50 4 and with the neck 19, which is smaller than the inner diameter of the hollow piston rod 62 for insertion into the lower part of the latter.

The upper wall 13 of cartridge 15 is adapted for abutment against the underface of piston 69 whereby upon displacement of piston 69 against upper wall 13 of the cartridge the viscous mass 141 may be displaced within the cartridge 15.

The operation of the device shown in Figs. 3 to 5 is as follows:

Upon insertion of the cartridge 15 into the container 55 and after having moved piston 69 into its uppermost position (as seen in Fig. 3) the discharge of the viscous substance 1d may be had as follows:

Upon rotation of actuating disk 58 moved by a finger of the hand grasping handle 52 and engaging subsequent notches 58a of disk 58 the piston rod engaging nut member 53 will only then become operative when the container 5D is held in upside down position, as seen in Fig. 5.

In this position detent 65 will swing to its extreme position in which it engages a selected tooth 66 of plate element 56 so that the rotation of disk 53 will be transmitted through plate element 5B to nut member 63 whereby the piston rod 62 is fed through bores 59, 60 while piston 65 presses against the cartridge and causes discharge of substance 14 therefrom and through the hollow piston rod 62 Yto the discharge end 83 thereof.

As soon as the container 56 is placed in its upright position, as seen in Fig. 3, detent 65 will become disengaged from plate element 56 and thus disk 58 becomes uncoupled from nut member 63 and will rotate idly. Discharge end B3 may lbe provided with a sleeve-shaped cover 82, if desired.

In order to hold nut member 63 substantially undisplaceably within container 5B retainer pins BI may be employed which are driven through suitable openings within the cylindrical wall 5l to the undersurface of nut member 53, which is thus supported by the three pins 8i (see Fig. 4) on the one hand and by spacer plate element 56 on the other hand. If the container 56 is turned upside down, as seen in Fig. 5, a predetermined quantity or quantities of pasty substance 14 may be squeezed outfrom within the container :by exerting pressure Vof piston 69 against upper wall 13 of cartridge 15.

Thus, container 56 forms only a guide for the round cartridge 15 which. is displaceable within container 55 to collapsed position. If itis de' sired to use the container 50 proper and not the cartridge 15 it willrbe easy to empty the latter into the space determined by cover 18 and the Y position of piston 69 within the container.

It is' within the Vpurview of this invention to modify container 56 of Fig. 3 to container I0 of Fig. 1 with the exception that a controlled actuating disk 58 is used which becomes only effec-Y tive when the container is brought in upside down position, as seen in Fig. 5, employing the mechanism hereinabove described with Figs. 3 to 5, inclusive.

The invention may be used in connection with any dispensingY devices, grease boxes and simi--v lar appliances where it is preferably required that in one position of the device no discharge of the in connection this invention includes positively controlled driven means (screw threaded hollow piston rod and nut member) and further position-controlled actuating or operating means connectable with one of said positively controlled means (nut member) through the intermediary of coupling means carried by one of said positively controlled driven means and interconnecting said actuating means with said positively controlled driven means. Such mechanism can be readily attached to a container in which a Viscous mass is placed for discharge therefrom in predetermined quantity or quantities.

While several embodiments of the invention have been shown and herein described, it will be understood that the same is capable of modifications without departure from the general scope and spirit of the invention as dened in the claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. A dispensing device for containers to facilitate discharge of pasty or similar viscous substance therefrom; comprising an operating member, a piston adapted to move in said container and including a hollow piston rod extending therefrom to facilitate discharge of said substance therethrough to Without said container, said piston rod being provided with a threaded portion, thread engaging means seated on said piston rod for engagement with said threaded portion thereof and actuatable by said operating member to thereby displace said piston rod with said piston within said container and relative to said thread engaging means, said operating member being provided with a grooved surface facing said thread engaging means, and swingable means carried by said thread engaging means for engagement with said grooved surface to couple said thread engaging means with said operating member only in predetermined position of said container.

2. The combination, in a dispensing mechanism, of an actuating member, with a hollow threaded element, a piston integral with said element, a nut member in engagement with said threaded element, means adapted to couple said nut member with said actuating member in predetermined position of the latter, and means forming part of said actuating member for the engagement of the iinger of a hand to rotate in unison said actuating member and said nut member in said predetermined position.

ALFRED MATLAS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,329,229 Donovan Jan. 27, 1920 2,123,741 Newton July 12, 1938 2,487,642 De Waltoi Nov. 8, 1949 

